Preventing Skin Cancer: Help Is on the Way

Summer is fast approaching, which means dining al fresco, beach vacations, and, if you're a one on the Fitzpatrick Skin Type, scale like I am, lots of sunscreen. The reality is that all of us should be more careful this time of year when it comes to sun exposure. And thanks to the Skin Cancer Foundation's Road to Healthy Skin Tour, we have no excuse. Starting next month, a 38-foot RV with two private exam rooms will travel cross-country offering free, full-body skin-cancer screenings conducted by volunteer dermatologists. Visitors will also receive materials that teach them how to perform monthly skin checks at home and sunscreen samples from brands like Banana Boat and Hawaiian Tropic.

If you can't swing by one of the tour dates in your town, make an appointment with your dermatologist for a quick screening—and learn how to do one yourself. Melanoma patients have a 98% chance of survival if they catch the tumor in an early stage before it penetrates the skin. Here are some tips from the Skin Cancer Foundation on how to prepare:

Get a preview. You know your body best. Come ready to point out any new itching or bleeding moles or growths. Change in size or color is one of the biggest indicators of early skin cancer.

Search high and low. A good dermatologist will look everywhere. Make sure yours doesn't ignore these commonly overlooked areas: the scalp, between the toes, and the soles of the feet.

Remove all nail polish. Skin cancer can form in nail beds (ew), so for the doctor to get a good look, make sure yours aren't covered up.